One of the most difficult injuries to persevere through is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), also known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD). It is a condition that affects your limbs that have been damaged in an accident, resulting in different types of nerve pain and consequences. If you have knees injured due to a car accident and the pain seems to be greater in the aftermath of the incident, you may be displaying early signs of CRPS. A condition like CRPS can cause extreme discomfort if not properly treated; you should make sure to seek medical assistance as soon as you feel pain that is out of the ordinary. The existence of CRPS can help you earn further compensation in a personal injury lawsuit, and one of our Lawyers in Los Angeles at Normandie Law Firm can help you receive a sizeable settlement. Our clients often call us with questions about CRPS in the knees and what steps they need to take to file a lawsuit. Examples of other such questions include:
- I got CRPS after a car accident. Can I sue the other driver?
- I hurt my knees and got CRPS after a motorcycle accident. How much is my case worth?
- Can I sue another driver if I developed CRPS after a truck accident?
- I have CRPS in my knees after a car crash. What can I earn?
CRPS from Auto Accidents
CRPS (RSD) from a knee injury can come about in numerous ways. In many cases, CRPS comes about after a particularly severe injury, such as a bad fracture, amputation, or crushing injury. An auto accident can be the primary cause for injuries of this nature. If you were driving a car that was struck by another vehicle, your knee may have been impacted by the surrounding metal and plastic that makes up your car, twisted beneath you from the force of the crash, or even severed from stray glass and sharp materials. A knee injury after a car accident should prompt you to seek immediate medical assistance.
Knee damage like this usually has pain that affects other areas; for example, if you sustain damage to your knees, you will likely feel pain in your legs, feet, ankles, and lower back. These groups of limbs are all part of a system – the hips propel the leg forward, the lower back stabilizes the body as it walks, the knees allow fluid motion, and the feet and ankles support the leg as it moves around. CRPS in the knees can extend to the lower extremities and cause intense pain and other complications.
CRPS generally occurs away from the location of the injury, and the pain is generally disproportionate to the damage. For instance, if you sustained a sprained ankle, you could develop CRPS thereafter; a sprained ankle hurts for a few days but then the swelling goes down and you can put weight on it. CRPS would cause you to feel as if your ankle and toes are broken, and may even move upwards toward your knees. There is no agreed upon reason as to why this phenomenon happens; scientists and doctors have theorized that it is due to confused signals being sent between the peripheral nervous system and brain. It has also been thought to be nerve damage of some sort. The elusive nature of CRPS is still confusing to some, and because it generally isn’t a well-known condition, many people may not realize they are suffering from it.
If your knees were injured in a car accident, you may suffer from CRPS if the pain seems abnormal. CRPS symptoms in the knees include a burning pain in the knee and surrounding areas; stiffness in the joint or muscle, leading to limited dexterity, movement, and range of motion; muscle spasms and jerks; swelling; a discoloration of the skin (generally redder than average); a change in texture of the skin; and a greatly increased sensitivity (and subsequent painful response) to touch and temperature, especially cold temperatures.
Possible Treatments
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome from a knee injury can be treated in a number of different ways, but it should be noted that there is no agreed upon cure. Doctors routinely try to utilize a form of pain management as treatment. If caught early enough, CRPS can be treated with a relatively high success rate. Doctors will advise patients to try using:
- Pain relievers: Pain relievers sold over the counter are meant to assuage pain and reduce swelling and inflammation. Aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and others can be purchased at most drug stores and may help control the pain.
- Antidepressants: Although antidepressants are mostly used for psychological reasons, the somatic effects can be used to treat nerve damage. They are often prescribed in tandem with anticonvulsants. Because the nerves are the main source of pain, these neuropathic effects can potentially lessen the strength of the signals being sent to the brain by the ganglions.
- Ketamine: Ketamine can be dangerous if given in high doses, so doctors may prescribe a low dosage of intravenous ketamine to help with the pain of CRPS. This anesthetic can relieve pain, but it does not help with functionality or mobility.
- Nerve-Blocking Medication: The pain fibers in your nerves can be blocked from sending signals to the brain. Medication that accomplishes this must be prescribed by a doctor.
- Corticosteroids: Corticosteroids are meant to reduce inflammation and help you recover faster. Prednisone is a common corticosteroid that can increase functionality in the damaged area.
- Topical Analgesics: The reduction of sensitivity in the affected area can greatly alleviate pain. Capsaicin is a component that is found in chili peppers and makes them taste spicy; this component can be used in cream, which serves as a great way to reduce inflammation, especially when paired with cold treatments.
- Physical Therapy: CRPS can eventually claim the range of motion and functionality of the limb. It can cause muscular atrophy and render the affected body part useless. Physical therapy is a great way to keep the area loose and active.
- Electric Therapy: Some electrical impulses can stimulate nerves in different ways, leading to a reduction in pain.
Moving Forward with Normandie
Normandie Law Firm knows that CRPS is a complex condition that can confuse many doctors. Because of its elusive nature, it can also be problematic for insurance companies to accurately gauge how much a case is worth. You may have to undergo multiple treatments and see numerous doctors before a consensus is met. Our CRPS attorneys at Normandie Law Firm know how troubling and unsettling this can be, and we offer our services to you. We believe you should be fully compensated for your damages resulting from CRPS in the knees if you were injured in a car accident.
The responsible party should cover your medical expenses (surgery, hospitalization, medication, treatments, physical therapy, and any future procedures or medications that are required), lost income (an injury can put you out of work for some time, especially if you depend on your knees; you can earn both past and future wages if an injury or ensuing recovery time prevented you from returning to your job), and emotional suffering (mental damage, fear, PTSD, anxiety, and psychological suffering can come about in the wake of CRPS in the knees). You should spend your time resting and trying your best to recover from the injuries.
Our team of attorneys is willing to help bring you a settlement you are satisfied with. We are an empathetic group that knows how much of a toll a knee injury can take on you, and we will aggressively fight against the insurance companies for your fair compensation. We are dedicated to helping you, and we are prepared to go to court to net you restitution.
Call our Los Angeles law firm today to receive a free legal consultation on your case. We are willing to answer any questions you have. One of our Los Angeles attorneys will walk you through the legal process, give you information on medical procedures, and discuss what you may be able to earn in a settlement if you pursue legal action. We embrace transparency and want all of our clients to be properly informed before moving forward.
If you select us to represent you, you are promised a zero fee guarantee on your claim. This means you will pay us no out of pocket expenses for our legal services – our fees will be taken from the settlement if we win your case, ensuring that your financial security is kept in place. If we lose your case, we eat all the costs and you don’t owe us anything at all.
Contact Normandie Law Firm today to speak to one of our attorneys with experience in CRPS lawsuits.
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